The Adopt-a-Spot program will be a catalyst to organize active community participation in keeping the City of Ramsey beautiful. This program is a partnership between the City of Ramsey and its citizens. This program will build civic pride by beautifying our city streets, parks, trails, a designated spot, etc., whereby increasing safety and decreasing litter and other pollutants through trash removal and other volunteer beautification efforts.

The Adopt-a-Spot program wants individuals, organizations, or businesses to “adopt” a street, park, trail, lot, or hotspot most anywhere, and agree to keep the area cleared of litter for at least two years. (Two clean-ups per year.)

The City provides a supply of trash bags, reflective vests, and gloves to the volunteers. The City will also give the organization a certificate suitable for framing and erect a special Adopt-a-Spot recognition sign in your designated area.

If your organization decides to Adopt-a-Spot, select a representative as liaison to the Program Coordinator. Select the spot that your group would like to adopt and then complete and return the Agreement Contract. View the application (PDF).

Yes! Through the City’s approval, citizens can plant trees, shrubbery or flowers along streets, plus other beautification projects. Contact the Program Coordinator and we would be happy to assist you with these projects:

The Animal Control Officer is responsible for the disposal of animal carcasses. You may report animal control issues by calling 763-427-6812, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 24-hour dispatch line may be contacted at 763-427-1212.

Licenses are required for all dogs over 6 months of age in the City of Ramsey. You may contact the Ramsey Police Department to obtain dog licenses. A current rabies vaccination record is required.

The City of Ramsey also offers annual pet clinics. At the annual pet clinics, veterinarians are available to offer low-cost vaccinations, and City of Ramsey staff are on hand to provide free pet licenses to clinic attendees. Pet Clinics are held in the spring. Visit the Community Events page for more information.

The Animal Humane Society offers adoption, outreach, pet boarding, training, and humane investigation services throughout the Twin Cities. The Anoka County area is serviced by the Coon Rapids location, which may be reached by calling 763-862-4030 or visiting:1141 Main Street NWCoon Rapids, MN 55448

Building permits are required to construct, add, alter, remove, demolish, or repair a structure. Permits are also required for some maintenance items. A permit ensures proper services are provided to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare. Permit applications are available online, by visiting the building permits page or at City Hall at7550 Sunwood Drive NWRamsey, MN 55303

The Ramsey Star Express is a comfortable coach-style bus offering service from the Municipal Parking Ramp in Ramsey to downtown Minneapolis. Eight trips are offered during both morning and evening rush hours. For arrival and departure times please visit Ramsey Star Express.

Citizens are able to download/print a copy of the current charter online at Municode.com. They can also view archived versions of the City charter in our online archive.Copies of the charter are also available at the Ramsey Municipal Center to view, or citizens can have one printed for them for a small fee.

Meeting rooms for public use are available at the Ramsey Municipal Center Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, or to reserve a room, please email Pam Miller or call at 763-427-1410.

The City publishes a bimonthly newsletter titled, the Ramsey Resident. The newsletter is delivered via U.S. Mail to every address in Ramsey. The most recent issue of the newsletter is available online.

The City of Ramsey has implemented a curfew for juveniles aged 17 or younger. In general, it is unlawful for juveniles to be in any public place in the City of Ramsey during the following hours:

Juveniles under the age of 12 - anytime between 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m. the following day. On Friday and Saturday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day.

Juveniles aged 12 to 14 - anytime between 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m. the following day. On Friday and Saturday between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following day.

Juveniles aged 15 to 17 - anytime between 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 a.m. the following day. At 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday.

Exceptions are allowed for young people who are in front of their own residence, with their parents, going to or coming from a place of employment, attending school or church functions, or on an errand for a parent.

If you see a downed power line, please call 911 or Connexus Energy at 763-323-2650 immediately. Downed power lines are dangerous. Do not assume that the downed wire is insulated or is no longer energized.

Election information, including a list of polling places and a Ward and Precinct Map are available on the Elections portion of the City website. You may also email the City Clerk Jo Thieling, or call at 763-433-9840 for more information.

Smoke detectors should be cleaned once or twice per year. You can do this with the brush attachment to your vacuum cleaner. please note: The detector may sound when you are cleaning it. read through the Smoke Alarms Safety Tips (PDF)

Smoke detectors have a normal life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. If you are getting false alarms from your detector, it may need to be replaced. When having problems with your detector, always remember to check the battery. Read through the Smoke Alarm safety Tips (PDF) for more information on how to maintain smoke detectors.

Yes. Professional chimney sweeps advise that chimneys be cleaned when the creosote has built up to 1/8 inch to ¼ inch. This will help prevent chimney fires. Remember: The fireplace is not an incinerator. Do not burn trash or large amounts of paper. The temperatures these items may produce can damage your fireplace or chimney. Find more resources on the Safety Tips page.

Yes! The Fire Department responds to several fires every year because a homeowner has cleaned their fireplace or wood stove and placed the ashes in a paper bag. Ashes can stay hot enough to start a fire for up to seven days. Find more resources on the Safety Tips page.

Some stains are capable of creating enough heat to start a fire as they dry (check the label). This is known as spontaneous combustion. Rags should be laid flat or hung to air dry. They can then be disposed of when completely dry. Rags should be hung or laid flat outside or in well-ventilated areas. Visit the Safety Tips page for other helpful resources, and recommendations.

The City Clerk is responsible for all of the City's licensing needs. If you have any questions regarding licensing, email Jo Thieling or call at 763-433-9840. Application forms are also available on the Licensing page.

This technology makes it possible to get fast accurate readings, it also eliminates the need to enter thousands of backyards and businesses since the reading can now be gathered by simply driving by your home or business.

A Neighborhood Crime Watch group is a group of neighbors committed to working together and watching out for one another. They actively witness and report to their neighbors, the police and responsible city officials concerning issues that affect their neighborhood and community.

Where they have been instituted, crime watch programs have had measurable effects of reducing crime and the fear of crime. Equally important is the effect neighborhood watch activities have on the way we feel about our safety. By working together to protect ourselves, we become involved in and have control over our homes and our neighborhoods.

The City of Ramsey requires that vehicles be licensed and operable. To report an abandoned or derelict car, please call the Ramsey Police Department at 763-427-6812 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 24-hour dispatch number is 763-427-1212. If you have an emergency, please call 911.

Off-street parking in residential areas is permitted only on an improved surface. Blacktop or concrete is required in all MUSA areas. Currently licensed and operable motor vehicles, the primary purpose of which is for private transportation or recreational use, may be parked in the front yard if on a driveway or in the side or rear yard, provided they are parked on a residential parking surface that consists of either bituminous pavement or concrete in the MUSA area, or recycled concrete, bituminous, or prepared gravel outside of those boundaries.

Commercial use motor vehicles and equipment may be parked outside for short-term periods (8 hours or less) or for long terms under the following conditions:

The vehicle(s) and/or equipment is screened to a degree of at least 75% at ground level view.

The vehicle(s) and/or equipment shall be parked only on the side yard or rear yard of the subject property and said items shall be parked on a residential parking surface that consists of either bituminous pavement or concrete, or outside the boundaries of the MUSA on a minimum of con bit or prepared gravel with at least 2-inch base.

An “Interim Use Permit” is required for all commercial use vehicles and equipment that cannot meet the criteria established above.

Active agriculture vehicles and equipment necessary to sustain agricultural uses are allowed and not required to be parked on prepared surfaces or screened.

Private and / or commercial use type motor vehicles and equipment parked on properties must be owned by the person owning or leasing the parcel. Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles registration records will be used to determine the owner of registered vehicles and/or equipment and said owner’s address.

With the keys in the ignition (passenger automobiles parked on a public street, alley, public parking lot, or place affected with a public interest in the City shall lock the ignition, remove the key, and take the key with him/her).

When, within the preceding 24 hours, there is an accumulation of falling or blowing snow three (3) inches or more in depth at street level anywhere within that block, until the block has been cleared of snow from curb to curb (commonly referred to as “snowbirds”).

Naturally occurring iron deposits have been stirred up within the water main system, this is often a result of water main flushing, which occurs in April and October. Another way this can happen is when a fire hydrant is used, either in the event of a fire near your home or unauthorized hydrant use. Whenever water is moved rapidly through the water mains, the iron deposits that settle to the bottom of the pipe get stirred up. We have also noticed a trend during hot weather, when a large number of irrigation systems are running and creating high water demand, the iron in the system can be stirred up.

Human bodies require iron to function properly, but iron, like many substances, is toxic at high dosages. However, you could not consume enough water to cause toxic levels of iron in your body.

The Environmental Protection Agency considers iron in drinking water as a secondary contaminant, which means it does not have a direct impact on health. Although it won’t harm your health, iron will stain clothes and plumbing fixtures. You can stop the iron, before it enters your home, with an iron filter and water softener.

Run several of the faucets in your home until the water clears, this should only take 30 minutes or less.

Check with your neighbors, if your house is the only one affected, it’s often an internal plumbing issue with your home.

Check your water softener. Do you have salt in it? We recommend iron fighter salt, which is typically packaged in the green bags. Failing water softeners will often build up large amounts of iron and will start to release the iron and possibly even a sand type of material. If this is the case please try bypassing your water softener. While the softener is in bypass mode run several faucets in your home, if the water clears, than your softener should be repaired or replaced.

Is only the hot water yellow or rust colored? Iron will often buildup in the bottom of your hot water heater and if all of the hot water is consumed during a high demand period, the iron will be released. If this happens you should try draining or flushing out the hot water heater. Typically hot water heaters have a hose hookup on the bottom. Be careful! Hot water can cause burns.

Remote control video cameras televise the entire sewer system once every five years or 30,000 feet of sewer mains per year. This video tape inspection locates existing and potential problem areas for repair including root cutting or root treating areas with tree root problems, joint sealing and short lining areas to correct infiltration and broken tile.

The entire sewer system is cleaned with a high pressure sewer jetter once every three years or 1/3 of the system annually. Pressure changes when the City cleans the sewer main may cause your toilet to flush and or create noise.

Lift stations pump the sewer up hill from a low point which enables the sewage to flow by gravity to the next low point and eventually into one of two Metropolitan Council Environmental Services interceptor sewers.

Every property in the City of Ramsey that has a house and/or driveway produces run-off. The storm drainage utility is a method to provide a dedicated source of revenue for storm drainage projects and maintenance. The storm drainage system is more comprehensive than just underground storm sewer pipes. It includes the ditch systems, ponds, pipes, and wetlands that are essential to the treatment and storage of storm water run-off prior to the discharge into lakes, rivers and streams.

Every new development will require the installation of new storm sewer pipes and the cost of those improvements will be borne by the developer of the property. Storm drainage utility revenue will not be used for new developments.

Financing storm water management projects with the storm drainage utility is the fairest and most economical method for the residential customer. The money that is collected through property taxes is based on the value of the property rather than amount of run-off that is produced from a typical residential parcel. The storm drainage utility fee for residential land ($6.30 per quarter) is based the run-off produced from a theoretical ¼ acre lot. Commercial and industrial parcels pay a much larger proportion of the storm drainage utility revenue, as they produce much more run-off.

Yes. Water stored in water towers flows by gravity and does not require power. For the extended power outages Ramsey has its own power generator that can run the wells to pump 1 million gallons per day, enough for a limited temporary supply. Ramsey also has an interconnection with the City of Anoka which could be opened to receive water during an emergency.

Ramsey's water is classified as very hard with 15 to 17 grains per gallon. Water hardness is due principally to calcium and magnesium and water is generally harder in areas where calcium and magnesium rich limestone rocks are present. Ramsey pumps its water from aquifers in dolomite/limestone rock formation.

This is a personal decision. A water filter is not required for the municipal water in Ramsey to meet drinking water standards. If the water is not to your liking, then you may want to consider a home treatment unit. Most filters will remove the large chlorine ions, which is in the water to kill the harmful bacteria and fluoride ions, which strengthen teeth.

Ramsey has very hard water that may cause scale buildup on your fixtures, or spots on your dishes. If you are bothered by this a water softener should help. Soft water rinses off better, and you generally use less soap for your dishes and laundry.

Groundwater is pumped from 8 deep wells, ranging from 320 to 350 feet deep. The groundwater is located in the Ironton-Galesville aquifer. Ramsey has the capacity to pump over 10.5 million gallons per day if needed.

When you turn on your faucet water flows out because the water in the pipes is under pressure and is pushed out. The weight of the water in the water tower provides your house with water pressure. The higher the water is above you, the more pressure you have.

Excess storage means the well can pump water more efficiently. The wells can pump water all night into storage as we sleep for the large demand when everyone wakes up and gets ready to start their day. Water is also saved over weekdays for weekends when majority of people use water to clean and do laundry. Ramsey's three storage tanks can hold 4 million gallons of water.